A Young Pakistani’s
Vision of Pakistan
By Fatima Khalid
San Jose CA
Each country begins
with a dream, just like each story begins with
a thought. The idea of a country is a thought,
a thought of a person, a dream of a people, and
a story of many inspirations. Allama Iqbal and
Muhammad Ali Jinnah were two different people
with a very similar thought: the thought of an
independent Muslim nation in the sub-continent
of India. Allama Iqbal was a very famous poet,
writer, and intellectual, but most of all he was
‘spiritually’ involved in the creation of a free
Muslim country.
Even when he was studying law and philosophy in
England, Iqbal was entirely involved in the events
occurring back home in India through the All India
Muslim League. Iqbal, after studying many concepts,
concluded that he and his fellow Muslims needed
a sovereign Muslim country. He was able to quickly
convince Muhammad Ali Jinnah that a separate country
(later called ‘Pakistan’) was mandatory for the
Muslims who were needlessly suffering in India.
After Allama Iqubal attended the Second Round
Table Conference in September 1931 in London,
he realized how prejudiced the Hindu and Sikh
delegates were at the conference. That convinced
him that a separate country was a must for the
Muslims of India. During the Third Round Table
Conference, Iqbal laid out his vision for the
Muslims living in India. He believed that Muslims
deserved their own country, a homeland to move
around freely without being suppressed. Iqbal
also believed that the Muslim and Hindu culture
were very dissimilar. Their religions were different,
their customs and festivals were different, their
clothing was different, everything between them
was different.
There was no possible way that Hindus and Muslims
could live side by side in the same country -
peacefully. A new country had to be created, and
the key to that was Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Muhammad
Ali Jinnah, a brilliant lawyer and political activist,
was involved in many political organizations,
but most importantly he was involved in the All
India Muslim League just like Iqbal. Jinnah was
the long awaited “Guide of the Era,” for Iqbal.
He was the perfect person to carry out Iqbal’s
dream of leading the Muslims to their goal of
a self-governing country. After Jinnah returned
from England, he reorganized the Muslim League
and in 1934 became the president of the party.
Iqbal depended heavily on Jinnah for the future
of Islam in an Islamic country, but unfortunately
Iqbal died in April of 1938 before his dream came
true. In March of 1940, the Muslim League held
its annual session and there the demand for a
sovereign ‘Pakistan’ was formally made.. Jinnah
had a dream to carry through. Although the idea
of a free Muslim country was ridiculed at first,
the Congress and British government hesitantly
accepted it, and the idea spread like wildfire
among the Indian Muslims. Jinnah was a strong
leader for the Muslims, and he rallied the Indian
Muslims under the Muslim League.
Through their resolute efforts under the leadership
of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the Muslims succeeded
through their painstaking efforts to split India
into Pakistan and Bharat. The dream of an independent
Muslim country, the dream of Allama Iqbal, achieved
under the guidance of Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August
14 of 1947. Jinnah was appointed as the first
Governor General, and came to be known amongst
the Pakistani Muslim people as Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad
Ali Jinnah, the father of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s independence day, August 14, 1947,
has great significance in the lives of Pakistanis
throughout the world. It is a day to remember
the freedom won by the Quaid-i-Azam for the Muslims
in the sub-continent of India, and a day to serve
as a reminder to be proud Pakistanis and hold
our heads high in any situation. The most important
thing to remember is that we are Muslims first
and Pakistani second. The driving force behind
the change Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam wanted,
was an independent Muslim state. If there were
no conflicts between the Hindus and Muslims, there
would have been no need for change. Pakistan was
created for the sole purpose that Muslims in sub-continent
India could live freely, and practice Islam without
being suppressed.
To keep up with contemporary secular views, Pakistan
should surge forward in different fields but we
should not forget that it is an Islamic country,
and Islam comes first no matter what. But we must
always be big-hearted and broad-minded as our
religion ordains us to do.. We should respect
other faiths and treat non-Muslims equally. There
should be no discrimination on the basis of religion.
Pakistanis living abroad should help by sending
donations to Pakistan, or by going to Pakistan
themselves and setting up schools, setting up
businesses, and helping Pakistan move forward.
Pakistanis are great people, and Pakistan is a
great nation, we all just need to pitch in to
make it a greater nation, a nation that other
countries will look up to and say “WOW! They are
amazing!” All of us need to help Pakistan overcome
the obstacles and move forward. Allama Iqbal and
Quaid-i-Azam jointly formed the nation of Pakistan.
Quaid-i-Azam was the one who led the Muslims to
freedom. “Few individuals significantly alter
the course of history. Fewer still modify the
map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited
with creating a nation-state. Mohammad Ali Jinnah
did all three,” says Stanley Wolpert. Iqbal and
Jinnah gave us a country with a purpose, now it
is our job to give it our best. Pakistan Zindabad!
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